2021 Season , Arrivals and departures

[Bucket]

Can he sign with another club now as a free agent or have to wait until July? Could be a solution for one of Dundalks problems.

[sbgawa]

Cant sign anywhere until July.
Super keeper DFC would be mad not to sign him up now and have him in training to get used to the team, on the other hand that would be to admit Abibi isnt the solution.

Rumour mill has Shane Keegan walking away from DFC last night, JAmes Rogers says so anyway and he is prety close to things up there

[sulywaterfordfc]

“ I have not left Waterford FC nor do I intend to leave our club”

A quote from a brief statement issued by Brian Murphy this evening. Murphy also went on to essentially say he’d a disagreement with management which resulted in him being dropped.

[DCSIL]

Former Sligo Rovers and other LOI clubs Striker Danny North is the new assistant manager of Lincolnshire non league side Barton Town.
A very up and coming club in non league circles id say

[Eminence Grise]

Genuinely curious why you say that. Joke, or some knowldge of them? They're ninth tier - the only team I recognise from the league is Goole AFC which I think is a phoenix club for Goole Town who Tony Galvin played for.

[sbgawa]

Rovers just announced Richie Towell,
Not the best kept secret in the world :)
Where does he fit into the Rovers midfield???

[Dalymountrower]

Rovers just announced Richie Towell,
Not the best kept secret in the world :)
Where does he fit into the Rovers midfield???
Has he recovered from his ongoing hamstring problems?

[D24Saint]

Rovers just announced Richie Towell,
Not the best kept secret in the world :)
Where does he fit into the Rovers midfield???

Good signing , it’s safe to assume he is the final piece in the jigsaw to secure another title. The race for Europe looks set to be the more competitive one this season.

[Nesta99]

Has he recovered from his ongoing hamstring problems?

Even if he has work to do to get and stay fit he will be a big asset for Rovers whenever. Tbh I dont think he is needed so badly as to rush him in to the side as Rovers will keep pulling away from the pack and win the league comfortably as it is. He could be tip things in Rovers favour agasint sterner tests in Europe though.

[sbgawa]

Even if he has work to do to get and stay fit he will be a big asset for Rovers whenever. Tbh I dont think he is needed so badly as to rush him in to the side as Rovers will keep pulling away from the pack and win the league comfortably as it is. He could be tip things in Rovers favour agasint sterner tests in Europe though.

He was back playing for them he got sent off with a couple of games to go so that was him done.
Should be rested enough but i guess will need a break before joining up with Rovers

[redobit]

So the big big wages are back I can only assume. Towell heading to Shamrock, he was on €4,250 a week with Salford and there is no way he is moving back to take a big drop in his wages. People saying its great to have him back in the league (and it is great to have top players back dont get me wrong) just concerned now about the inevitable hike across the board in player wages. Must be nice to have a sugar daddy to pay crazy wages after making large loss last year.

[Nesta99]

A budget is set, the manager gets to allocate it where he wants, but the wage structure is strict and based on financial prudence - its all 4th highest budget stuff and throwing kitchen sinks at players, well thats the mantra of some Rovers fans, and Cork tbh. At least we know Dundalk are burning Euro cash for fun but theres no fan ownership to step in if things start to get out of hand!!! I know Towell would hardly have dropped to L2 unless its was a top offer but how is it known that hs deal was €4250pw. Maybe he knew he wasnt getting a contract much better than what Rovers and Dundalk were but those offers could a lot less than 4k if there wasnt a queue for his signature. You are right though, it just takes one club to splash the cash and tempt others to try and keep up even when the sums dont add up. Usually there is an embaressing high profile readjustment and champions go bang when suger daddies run out of credit or get bored....

[sbgawa]

I haven't a clue what he was on at Salford but he was out of contract in July so i reckon Salford could have outbid us if they wanted , maybe he just wanted to come home. There is zero chance he is on anything like 5k at Rovers, if Rovers had 5k to splash around Jack Byrne would probably still be there.

[ontheotherhand]

He was coming home regardless, just a matter of who offered the better deal by the sounds of it. Rovers offered a 3 year deal and a chance to win something. Not sure we had much competition in reality with Dundalk offering 1 year/6 month deals and in a period of turmoil. Where else would he go? Could Sligs have passed another donation bucket around and got him in? Must be nice to have a sugar bucket like that.

[Dalymountrower]

Hopefully he takes a good chunk of Rovers budget but I suspect he will be on no more than 120 k a year. If he can get Rovers past first round in Europe he earns them 800k.Worth the punt.

[Charlie Darwin]

So the big big wages are back I can only assume. Towell heading to Shamrock, he was on €4,250 a week with Salford and there is no way he is moving back to take a big drop in his wages. People saying its great to have him back in the league (and it is great to have top players back dont get me wrong) just concerned now about the inevitable hike across the board in player wages. Must be nice to have a sugar daddy to pay crazy wages after making large loss last year.
Ah look, I'm sure he's a very good LOI wage but there's no way he's getting paid 4x what Ronan Finn is getting. Be real.

Even at their most insane, Dundalk were paying Colovic max 2k a week. Salford wages are ridiculous for the English fourth tier, he was never getting close to that anywhere in England and especially not here.

[Charlie Darwin]

A budget is set, the manager gets to allocate it where he wants, but the wage structure is strict and based on financial prudence - its all 4th highest budget stuff and throwing kitchen sinks at players, well thats the mantra of some Rovers fans, and Cork tbh. At least we know Dundalk are burning Euro cash for fun but theres no fan ownership to step in if things start to get out of hand!!! I know Towell would hardly have dropped to L2 unless its was a top offer but how is it known that hs deal was €4250pw. Maybe he knew he wasnt getting a contract much better than what Rovers and Dundalk were but those offers could a lot less than 4k if there wasnt a queue for his signature. You are right though, it just takes one club to splash the cash and tempt others to try and keep up even when the sums dont add up. Usually there is an embaressing high profile readjustment and champions go bang when suger daddies run out of credit or get bored....
Salford were paying more than anyone in L2 and probably more than anyone in L1 too. Towell didn't drop down two divisions for the craic (nor did Gaffney or Rooney when they joined them). Salford may well have the money to maintain those wages but nobody else around them is able to, so Towell will have the choice of a big drop at L2 level or come home for a big drop.

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

Salford certainly wouldn’t have been offering him a 3 and a half year

[placid casual]

Your right, they signed him on a two year contract.
Is there a point you're trying to make?

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

That Towell, who is 30 a few weeks after his contract starts, is not going to get a 3 and a half year contract off anyone else so will be ok taking a small paycut from his Salford current contract.

[Sonny]

I love this image of Desmond ploughing money into Rovers paying the wages. This couldn't be further from the reality of the situation, and it's actually not even possible under the ownership structure.

[redobit]

I love this image of Desmond ploughing money into Rovers paying the wages. This couldn't be further from the reality of the situation, and it's actually not even possible under the ownership structure.

Money can be put in to clubs other ways like sponsorship for example. Or if he helps to clear any debts then it's one in the same surely. No offence but your naïve to think that an owner's money isn't going to pay players in some shape or form. May not be through the channels you expect but it is happening.

[ontheotherhand]

Money can be put in to clubs other ways like sponsorship for example. Or if he helps to clear any debts then it's one in the same surely. No offence but your naïve to think that an owner's money isn't going to pay players in some shape or form. May not be through the channels you expect but it is happening.

He invested an agreed amount of money for a specific purpose in exchange for a share of the club. He isn't reaching in to his pockets again to pay Towell some "crazy wage" as you suggested in your original post. If the first team budget has room for Towell's wage it's more likely down to the sale of McEneff, European money and other departures leaving chunks out of the wage bill.

Out: Byrne, McEneff, Bolger, Marshall, Lafferty
In: Mandriou, McCann, Towell, Hoare, Gannon

Big difference between your original 'sugar daddy paying crazy wages' claim and then your subsequent post describing how clubs use sponsorship and other sources to bring in money.

[Sonny]

Money can be put in to clubs other ways like sponsorship for example. Or if he helps to clear any debts then it's one in the same surely. No offence but your naïve to think that an owner's money isn't going to pay players in some shape or form. May not be through the channels you expect but it is happening.

None of Desmond's companies have any sponsorship deals with Rovers. Desmond bought 25% equity in the club. There are specific provisions in the shareholder agreement which prevent IIU from ploughing money into the club in the way you are describing. Naivety is confidently making wild statements on message boards on issues about which you don't even have the faintest clue.

[Nesta99]

He invested an agreed amount of money for a specific purpose in exchange for a share of the club. He isn't reaching in to his pockets again to pay Towell some "crazy wage" as you suggested in your original post. If the first team budget has room for Towell's wage it's more likely down to the sale of McEneff, European money and other departures leaving chunks out of the wage bill.


If the club doesnt have to direct resources in to a particular aspect, that would help free up finances for other areas though surely. He may not be directly investing in the first team but its bound to have some impact. Out of interest, how or where does he get a return on investment, Will he get a dividend of any profits made on the 25% or is it tied to player sales/profit from the academy only?

[sbgawa]

From memory at the time the agreement was no dividends to be paid out all profits reinvested so the only way he can get a return as such is for Rovers to grow and sell his shares. To be honest i dont think multi billionaire Desmond is too worried about the dividends from Rovers profits :)

[sbgawa]

Bolton's promotion from League Two inspired by ghosts of Premier Leagues past - Buzz.ie (https://www.buzz.ie/sport/soccer/boltons-promotion-league-two-inspired-24117768)


Nice article about Bolton and Eoin Doyle,
Looks like he will be Rovers bound at some stage

I always think of Ivan Campo , Jay jay and big Sam when i hear about Bolton

Enjoyed the Banter in the article between Doyle and Towell when Bolton played Salford

[Nesta99]

From memory at the time the agreement was no dividends to be paid out all profits reinvested so the only way he can get a return as such is for Rovers to grow and sell his shares. To be honest i dont think multi billionaire Desmond is too worried about the dividends from Rovers profits :)

Yeah, I doubt he will be waiting at the door. Sounds more like a benefactor or someone who wants to see an improvement in players potentially developed for the international side.

[Charlie Darwin]

Desmond, I suspect, sees the link with Rovers as a way to benefit Celtic. The club is still controlled by the non-Desmond directors so any potential for dividends to be paid out would need to cleared by them. Desmond's investment in Rovers is tiny compared to what he's put into Celtic so I doubt recouping his investment is the goal, it's more just what it can do for his real love.

[Nesta99]

Desmond, I suspect, sees the link with Rovers as a way to benefit Celtic. The club is still controlled by the non-Desmond directors so any potential for dividends to be paid out would need to cleared by them. Desmond's investment in Rovers is tiny compared to what he's put into Celtic so I doubt recouping his investment is the goal, it's more just what it can do for his real love.

Good point, if a little sad if its a sneaky way of creating a form of feeder club to Celtic and that thats where is priorities lie - no surprise on that though considering the money he has tied up in Celtic.

[Dalymountrower]

Desmond, I suspect, sees the link with Rovers as a way to benefit Celtic. The club is still controlled by the non-Desmond directors so any potential for dividends to be paid out would need to cleared by them. Desmond's investment in Rovers is tiny compared to what he's put into Celtic so I doubt recouping his investment is the goal, it's more just what it can do for his real love.


I am guessing money is his real love , no?

[John83]

If you love money, football is a ****e investment.

[sbgawa]

How to become a millionaire.....start as a billionaire and buy a football club :)
These days anyway as people understand about leveraging assets better, when you look back at what the Glazers bought brand Man Utd for it was laughable.

[Sonny]

Desmond, I suspect, sees the link with Rovers as a way to benefit Celtic. The club is still controlled by the non-Desmond directors so any potential for dividends to be paid out would need to cleared by them. Desmond's investment in Rovers is tiny compared to what he's put into Celtic so I doubt recouping his investment is the goal, it's more just what it can do for his real love.

Don't see this at all; there hasn't been any move towards establishing any sort of relationship with Celtic since he bought in. If this is his intention it's a very long game he's playing.

[Dalymountrower]

If you love money, football is a ****e investment.
Well football is a poor investment for those who invest emotionally . Doubt whether DD does that,( Other than the pals loans to PJ Mara, CJ Haughey and family) He has rarely made an investment that hasn`t yielded a good return, his failed casino in Dublin being one that stands out. He reportedly made money from the United sale, and he may be tempted to off load his Celtic investment at a profit, if the losses in 20/21 season ( north of €10 million) are repeated next season.
Will he cash in his Rovers stake at that point? Probably not, an investment like that is of little consequence to someone worth over €2 bn, probably a handy loss making offset.

[Calcio Jack]

Well football is a poor investment for those who invest emotionally . Doubt whether DD does that,( Other than the pals loans to PJ Mara, CJ Haughey and family) He has rarely made an investment that hasn`t yielded a good return, his failed casino in Dublin being one that stands out. He reportedly made money from the United sale, and he may be tempted to off load his Celtic investment at a profit, if the losses in 20/21 season ( north of €10 million) are repeated next season.
Will he cash in his Rovers stake at that point? Probably not, an investment like that is of little consequence to someone worth over €2 bn, probably a handy loss making offset.

For the record and let’s not kid ourselves - DD never by his own admission to the Moriarty tribunal never gave a penny as a loan to the thief Haughey a man who was as corrupt as any tin pot dictator ever was- he did on his own admission give him £125,000 with as he said “... no strings attached..” because he was such an admirer of CJH whom he claimed was the father of the Celtic Tiger-.

Still I’m sure all the Rovers Members that voted to take his money sleep soundly knowing that DD is nothing but a benevolent benefactor ( again his words) .... we’ll see

[Charlie Darwin]

I am guessing money is his real love , no?
Well yeah but, as John83 said, football is a terrible investment. Football is full of people who love money who nevertheless waste it on football teams.

As far as Celtic goes, you could look at it this way. Celtic were in for Bazunu but missed out as Man City were willing to pay more, partly because they'd been aware of him just as long as Celtic and have more money. One advantage of a link with a smaller club is you could identify players like that earlier and get in before clubs like Man City. In that context, a 2m investment is peanuts if you can potentially end up with another Van Dijk (not suggesting Rovers are going to produce one).

[Charlie Darwin]

Don't see this at all; there hasn't been any move towards establishing any sort of relationship with Celtic since he bought in. If this is his intention it's a very long game he's playing.
Rich people can afford to play long games. He's a billionaire - I doubt he's studying the accounts every night to make sure he's getting his money back.

[Nesta99]

For the record and let’s not kid ourselves -DD never by his own admission to the Moriarty tribunal never gave a pennyas a loan to the thief Haughey a man who was as corrupt as any tin pot dictator ever was- he did on his own admission give him £125,000 with as he said “... no strings attached..” because he was such an admirer of CJH whom he claimed was the father of the Celtic Tiger-.

Still I’m sure all the Rovers Members that voted to take his money sleep soundly knowing that DD is nothing but a benevolent benefactor ( again his words) .... we’ll see

Never by his own admission never gave a penny to CJH - tribunal stuff indeed!

[Calcio Jack]

Never by his own admission never gave a penny to CJH - tribunal stuff indeed!

He did admit to Moriarty tribunal that he gave CJH £125k with the caveat that it was a ‘no strings’ loan and that he regarded it as a ‘debt of honour’

[placid casual]

Interesting to see the word "Honour" in the same sentence as haughey. He had little or none of it whilst he was alive.

[sbgawa]

Haughey built the IFSC on which DD made a fortune.
I wouldn't trust DD any more than i would trust Peak 6.
Possibly a bit more on the basis he cant sever ties with Ireland and run as quick as Peak 6 can but most very wealthy people dont parcel off pieces of their empires as being different in terms of needing or not needing a return.

[Charlie Darwin]

Interesting to see the word "Honour" in the same sentence as haughey. He had little or none of it whilst he was alive.
Dunno if he's had much since he's been not alive either :)

[pateen]

Any of these castaways on LOI clubs radar?
https://www.the42.ie/paul-mcshane-joins-list-of-irish-internationals-entering-free-agency-5441675-May2021/

[sulywaterfordfc]

David Bell gone in as the new assistant manager with Waterford

[Martinho II]

David Bell gone in as the new assistant manager with Waterford

Who on earth is DB Suly?

[Fermoy Blue]

Who on earth is DB Suly?

I know who he is and what he is........a complete spoofer.......

[Mr A]

David Bell gone in as the new assistant manager with Waterford

If he is anything like his predecessor he will have a few ding dongs with match officials.

[Mr A]

I hope the pressures of the role don't take too much of a toll on him, would hate if he dropped any clangers.

[Mr A]

I suppose if he does get suspended he could a peal it.